Drugs and Drug Use

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Illegal drug use is the ingestion of substances that are classified as controlled substances or the misuse of prescription medicine. It is a common myth that it is legal to possess small amounts of marijuana in Canada. This is false. It is illegal to possess any amount of marijuana. The only exception is those individuals who have applied for and been granted access to use marijuana for medical purposes. Health Canada mandates strict parameters on those who are permitted to use medicinal marijuana.

Because there are no controls over what illegal drugs are made of, there is no consistency in their ingredients. There is no guarantee how your body will react each and every time that you take an illegal drug because no one knows exactly what you are putting into your body. If you suspect that someone's well-being is being affected by a drug, legal or otherwise, it is best to call 911 and have the person assessed by emergency services. No one would ever be criticized for calling emergency services regarding a concern that someone may be suffering from harm. Unfortunately it can, and has, resulted in tragedy when people are reluctant to call for help for a person in distress.

It is difficult to know what to look for to identify if someone is using drugs. Certain changes in behaviour may indicate that an individual is using drugs or has a substance abuse problem.

If drugs are found in the home, there are several options to dispose of them. Drugs that can be identified as prescription medication can be taken to a local pharmacy for destruction. Drugs should never be dumped down the sink or flushed in the toilet because they can contaminate Calgary’s water and ground systems.

Anytime a substance is located that is believed to be an illegal or unknown drug, store them in a safe place and contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at (403) 266-1234. An officer will be dispatched to take possession of the drugs and seize them for destruction. Drugs that are seized by the police as evidence are sent for analysis. Drugs that are not required for any court proceedings are disposed of according to regulations set out by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Contacting the police regarding illegal drug use

There are two vehicles available for citizens to contact CPS regarding illegal drug use:

CPS Drug Tip Line

A 24-hour answering machine that gives citizens the opportunity to provide information about alleged drug activity.

When leaving information please be as specific as possible, provide names and addresses if known. An officer will only call back if further information is required in relation to the tip. Please be aware that the drug tip line and drug tip emails are neither anonymous nor confidential. To remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers is a community, media and police co-operative program designed to involve the public in the fight against crime. Crime Stoppers provides citizens with a vehicle to anonymously supply the police with information about a crime or potential crime. A reward of up to $2,000 is offered to anyone providing information, which leads to an arrest, or the recovery of stolen property or the seizure of illegal drugs

If you have information regarding criminal activity or wish to check on the status of your tip, please contact Crime Stoppers: